Verbena plant named ‘Bludena’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Verbena  plant named ‘Bludena,’ characterized particularly as to novelty by blue violet flowers, which appear earlier on the plant, and a growing habit that is first upright and later spreading.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Verbena×hybrida.

Varietal denomination: ‘Bludena’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Verbena, botanically known as Verbena×hybrida.

The new Verbena×hybrida is a product of a planned breeding program conducted in Enkhuizen, Netherlands.

A new Verbena plant particularly distinguished by its blue-violet flowers, early flowering, and a growing habit that is first semi-erect and later spreading.

The new cultivar is propagated from cuttings resulting from the open pollination of ‘G0503-5’ and an unknown parent. ‘G0503-5’ is a bright rose flowering Verbena having a spreading habit. ‘G0503-5’ is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. The male parent is unknown. ‘G0503-5’ has not been patented. As a result of this open pollination the present cultivar was created in 2004 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a three year period. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations, and this novelty appears to be firmly fixed.

This new Verbena plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the US, only in zones 9 and 10 it is a perennial plant.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar was applied for in Europe on Nov. 12, 2008. ‘Bludena’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing of this application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Verbena. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 14 week old plants, blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse. Color readings were taken in the greenhouse under ambient light.

Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ‘BLUDENA,’ ITS PARENT, AND THE MOST RESEMBLING VARIETY ‘Spikena’ (U.S. Plant ‘Bludena’ ‘G0503-5’ Pat. No. 12,452) Flower color N88A Rose 83A Earliness Early Early Late Internode length Short Short Long Plant size Compact Compact Big

-   The plant:     -   -   Classification botanical.—Verbena×hybrida.         -   Parentage.—Female parent: ‘G0503-5’. Pollen parent: Unknown.         -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright.         -   Plant height.—18-25 cm.         -   Spreading area of plant.—30-60 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Hanging and vigorous.         -   Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching             at every node.         -   Blooming period.—From April until November. -   The stem:     -   -   Diameter.—2.5-3 mm.         -   Shape.—Tetragonal.         -   Anthocyanin pigmentation.—Absent.         -   Color.—37B.         -   Length of internode.—18-32 mm, depending on the light where             the plant is propagated.         -   Pubescence.—Pubescence is present. -   The foliage:     -   -   Phyllotaxis.—Opposite.         -   Shape of blade.—Broadly ovate.         -   Texture.—Upper side: Pubescent. Lower side: Pubescent.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Leaf margin.—Sinuate.         -   Leaf base.—Shortly attenuate.         -   Leaf apex.—Abruptly acute.         -   Length.—25-35 mm.         -   Width.—18-25 mm.         -   Depth of incision.—0.5 mm.         -   Color.—Upper side: 137A. Lower side: 137C.         -   Pubescence.—Some pubescence is present.         -   Length of leaf stem.—2-3 mm.         -   Petiole surface structure.—Slightly pubescent. -   The bud:     -   -   Peduncle length.—15-40 mm, depending on season.         -   Size.—Diameter: 2 mm. Length: 8-12 mm.         -   Shape.—Elongated and ovate.         -   Color.—137C.         -   Sepals.—Color: 138B. Form: Upright. Number: 5, fused. Size:             4.5 mm. Shape: Elongated. -   The flower:     -   -   Facing direction.—Upward.         -   Outward curvature of petal.—Slightly curved.         -   Diameter.—20 mm.         -   Height.—18-20 mm.         -   Borne.—In a cluster.         -   Form.—Salverform; sessile on terminal spikes.         -   Cluster.—Spike.         -   Color.—N88A.         -   Eye.—No eye is present.         -   Overlapping of petals.—Separate.         -   Number of petals.—Gamopetalous, 5 lobed.         -   Shape of the petals.—Each petal is heart shaped at the apex             and grown together at the base.         -   Petal margin.—Entire.         -   Petal surface texture.—Smooth.         -   Size of the petal.—Length: 6-8 mm. Width: 6-8 mm.         -   Spike Length.—25-35 mm. Diameter: 30-55 mm.         -   Calyx length.—8-10 mm.         -   Anthocyanin pigmentation of calyx limb.—Absent.         -   Color of the calyx.—137A.         -   Number of flowers per spike.—20-28.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.         -   Lastingness of the bloom.—New florets continue to open in             one spike over a period of 14 days.         -   Lastingness of one flower.—5 days on the plant and 3 hours             off the plant. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamens quantity: 4. Anther shape: Ovoid. Anther             length: 1 mm. Anther color: 144D. Pollen amount: Scarce             pollen. Pollen color: 145D.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistils quantity: 1. Pistil length: 18-22 mm.             Stigma shape: Bi-lobed. Stigma color: 144C. Style length:             14-18 mm. Style color: 144D. Ovary color: 144C.             No seed set is observed. -   Physiological and ecological characteristics: Good tolerance to heat     and cold, from 2-35 degrees C. No resistance to diseases common in     Verbena is observed. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant named ‘Bludena,’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 